In this edition, we gladly release the final reports of the latest ABF & BBSF leading summits, covering major topics of local, regional, and international interest. Enjoy reading!!!

‘‘Food security is no longer merely a technical or agricultural issue

but a core pillar of national security, social stability, and strategic readiness’’

‘‘IMEC is more than a trade route; it is the foundation of a new geopolitical architecture.

By anchoring India and Europe through a stabilized Middle East, it has the potential to secure the strategic interests of its stakeholders for the next century’’

‘‘it is emphasized the need for a Radical System Redefinition of the agri-food model

to address the impacts of the climate crisis and severe sanitary challenges in livestock’’

The 8^th International AgriBusiness Forum on the “Agri-Food Sector in the New Geopolitical Environment” will take place at Sarogleion Megaron, in Athens, on 18–19/3/2026. This edition examines geopolitical and environmental disruptions and their implications for agrifood systems in Greece and the world. Across 6 plenary sessions, distinguished representatives from academia, business, diplomacy, and the agricultural sector will address productivity, resilience, and food security in an era of climate crisis, geopolitical tensions, and heightened uncertainty.

Download the report here

The Thessaly AgriBusiness Forum 2025 highlighted the strategic importance of Thessaly to the Greek economy, with the region’s primary and secondary sectors contributing over 30% of its GDP. The conference emphasized the need for a Radical System Redefinition of the agri-food model to address the impacts of the climate crisis (Daniel/Ianos floods) and severe sanitary challenges in livestock.

Read | Download the full report here

8^th International AgriBusiness Forum, Athens, 18–19 March 2026
“The Agrifood Sector in the New Geopolitical Environment”

At a time of intensifying geopolitical complexity and systemic uncertainty, the agrifood sector is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of strategic resilience, food sovereignty, social cohesion, and international stability. As global interdependencies deepen, the sector faces mounting pressures stemming from food security risks, disruptions in trade and supply chains, the imperative of energy transition, and the accelerating impacts of climate change.

Within this context, the 8^th International AgriBusiness Forum convened in Athens on 18–19 March 2026, reaffirming its role as a high-level platform for dialogue, reflection, and forward-looking policy engagement. The Forum addressed the evolving geopolitical and environmental landscape and its implications for agrifood systems at national, regional, and global levels. The Forum featured 8 plenary sessions, bringing together 50 distinguished speakers from international organizations, EU and national institutions, academia, the private sector, and the primary production community. The event welcomed 260 participants from Greece and abroad, fostering a multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral exchange of perspectives.

Deliberations focused on critical thematic pillars. Three sessions examined “Geopolitics and Food Security”, with particular emphasis on the Balkans, the Eastern Mediterranean, Central Asia, and the broader international system. Four sessions explored “Strategic Approaches”, addressing key priorities including digital sovereignty and cybersecurity, innovation and emerging technologies, traceability and resilient supply chains, as well as climate action, environmental sustainability, the energy transition, and the advancement of the green economy. Particular attention was given to research, skills development, and the strengthening of synergies across the primary sector, agri-food industry, and academic ecosystems. A dedicated session reviewed the institutional trajectory and impact of the AgriBusiness Forum since 2018, alongside the key outcomes of the Thessaly AgriBusiness Forum 2025, reinforcing continuity and strategic alignment across initiatives.

In the framework of its international partnerships, the Forum facilitated high-level diplomatic engagement through official receptions co-hosted with the Embassy of Azerbaijan (18 March) and the Embassy of Albania (19 March). On the occasion of the latter, H.E. Ambassador Ms. Luela Hajdaraga and the Chair of the AgriBusiness Forum, Mr. Giannis Balakakis, formalized a Memorandum of Cooperation establishing the Tirana AgriBusiness Forum as a dedicated regional platform for the Western Balkans. The inaugural edition is scheduled for October 2026, in Tirana, marking a significant step towards enhanced regional cooperation and integration.

Key Message: The agrifood sector is not merely a component of the economy. It is a fundamental driver of stability, growth, and peace. In an era defined by volatility and transformation, investing in resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, strengthening multilateral cooperation, advancing knowledge exchange, promoting policy coherence, and harnessing innovation and digital transformation are essential to addressing global challenges. Such efforts can effectively convert systemic risks into opportunities for inclusive growth, reinforcing the sector’s role as a driver of long-term prosperity and security for societies worldwide.

The AgriBusiness Forum: Since 2018, the AgriBusiness Forum has evolved into a leading platform at the intersection of agritech, policy dialogue, and multi-stakeholder engagement. It serves as a catalyst for knowledge transfer, strategic partnerships, and the modernization of agrifood systems, with a strong emphasis on digital transformation and sustainability. Its track record includes 13 international & regional conferences, 2 masterclasses and 2 innovation competitions promoting entrepreneurship, as well as 3 international missions, bringing together over 9,000 participants and 500 speakers from Greece and across the globe. It maintains active collaborations with leading European, regional, and international institutions and organizations, further consolidating its role as a hub of influence and cooperation in the agrifood domain.

The reports of the Forum will soon be available from the Agricultural University of Athens, Scientific Partner of the AgriBusiness Forum, while the sessions’ video recordings will be uploaded to the Forum’s YouTube channel in the coming weeks.

Facebook – Twitter – YouTube – LinkedIn 

The 8^th International AgriBusiness Forum on the “Agri-Food Sector in the New Geopolitical Environment” will take place at Sarogleion Megaron, in Athens, on 18–19/3/2026. This edition examines geopolitical and environmental disruptions and their implications for agrifood systems in Greece and the world. Across 6 plenary sessions, 40+ distinguished representatives from academia, business, diplomacy, and the agricultural sector will address productivity, resilience, and food security in an era of climate crisis, geopolitical tensions, and heightened uncertainty.

REGISTER HERE

Stay tuned:

https://agribusinessforum.org

https://agribusinessforum.org/2026abf-athens/

Social media

Facebook – LinkedIn – Twitter – YouTube

The 8^th International AgriBusiness Forum on the “Agri-Food Sector in the New Geopolitical Environment” will take place at Sarogleion Megaron, in Athens, on 18–19/3/2026. This edition examines geopolitical and environmental disruptions and their implications for agrifood systems in Greece and the world. Across 6 plenary sessions, 40+ distinguished representatives from academia, business, diplomacy, and the agricultural sector will address productivity, resilience, and food security in an era of climate crisis, geopolitical tensions, and heightened uncertainty.

REGISTER HERE

Stay tuned:

https://agribusinessforum.org

https://agribusinessforum.org/2026abf-athens/

Social media

Facebook – LinkedIn – Twitter – YouTube

The Organizing Committee of the AgriBusiness Forum 2026, announces the change of venue to accommodate the 8th international conference

The new venue is the emblematic Saroglion Megaron

More info at https://agribusinessforum.org/2026abf-athens/conference-venue/

Adia Aluma Athens

A Curio Collection by Hilton is the accredited hotel for the AgriBusiness Forum 2026

See the special prices, the terms, the conditions, and the gallery at the link below

2026abf-athens-Accredited Hotel

Read in Greek

• Food-systems at the crossroads of geoeconomic and geopolitical turbulence
• The earth under pressure for feeding 9-Bio people consuming 4 trillion m³ of water annually
• Climate disruption, supply chains, decarbonization, energy disorder, 900-Mio people without food, 1-Bio tons of food wasted
• Farmers of multiple levels: traditional, modern, entrepreneurial, and subsidy-dependent

When? Wednesday 18 & Thursday 19 March 2026
Where? Agricultural University of Athens
Who? International & Greece’s executives & experts from the academic, business, diplomatic, and agri-food sectors
Registration: https://agribusinessforum.org/2026abf-athens/

The 8^th International AgriBusiness Forum 18 & 19 March 2026 — in figures

What’s NEW in 2026? B2B Roundtables

Key vendors & sponsors meet innovative producers and SMEs for targeted presentations and exploitation of bilateral cooperation, in the context of modern (agro-)entrepreneurship. Participation is available to only 20 SMEs (upon request and subject to availability).

How B2B meetings working? https://agribusinessforum.org/2026abf-athens/b2b-meetings-explained/

How about Sponsorships?

8 flexible categories to satisfy your needs

– Conference & B2B Roundtables: Platinum | Gold

– Conference only: Platinum | Gold | Silver | Bronze

– B2B only: Platinum | Gold

Key Partners

Agricultural University of Athens | CSR Hellas | EPLO | V.C. Constantakopoulos Foundation | Israel-Greece Chamber of Commerce & Industry

AgriBusiness Forum in Action

8 years, 13 conferences, 2 masterclasses & challenges on innovation, 2 Agrifood traction tours, 7000+ attendees, 500+ speakers, committed to advance knowledge & best practices towards viable, resilient, and profitable food systems.

Stay tuned:

– https://agribusinessforum.org

– https://agribusinessforum.org/2026abf-athens/

In Greek

AgriBusiness Forum, in collaboration with ELGO-Demeter, the Agricultural University of Athens, the Hellenic Space Center, and the i-BEC Interbalkan Environment Centre, organized a high-level working meeting on Tuesday, 9/12/2025, on the topic: “The New European Directive on Soil Monitoring and Resilience” (SML).

As 61% of the EU territory suffers severe soil degradation, this new directive, released in late October 2025, sets targets, definitions, and rules for assessing soil health, sustainable soil management, and remediation of contaminated areas.

The scope of the aforementioned meeting was to delve into “SML” requirements, the monitoring framework, the integration into the current and new C.A.P., the management of energy footprint, also to assess the impact on the overall ecosystem, including farming, processing, distribution, and consumption of agricultural products.

The meeting was conducted by Mr. Giannis Balakakis, Chair of the AgriBusiness Forum, while keynote speakers have been:

• Emmanuel Flemetakis, Vice-Rector, Agricultural University of Athens
• Thomas Bartzanas, Vice-Rector, Agricultural University of Athens
• Panos Panagos, Project Leader EU Soil Observatory, European Commission
• Georgios Zalidis, Professor Em. Aristotle University, A-VP OPEKEPE
• Paraskevi Chantzi, Head of Research & Innovation, i-BEC
• Vasileios Takavakoglou, Sr. Researcher, Soil & Water Resources, ELGO-Demeter
• Dimitris Bliziotis, Earth Observation Program Manager, Hellenic Space Center
• Konstantinos Karyotis, Head of New Technologies & Spectral Data, i-BEC

The meeting was held at the Agricultural University of Athens and was attended, upon invitation, by designated representatives from Ministries, Organizations, Associations, Banks, and the Diplomatic Corps.

• photo material: https://agribusinessforum.org/terramatrix-2025/tm-2025-good-to-know
• https://agribusinessforum.org
• https://agribusinessforum.org/terramatrix-2025/

Social media: Facebook – LinkedIn – Twitter – YouTube